While the weather cools down and snow begins to fall, not everyone on campus looks forward to Kamloops’ cold winters. While some bundle up in their warm clothing, cursing Jack Frost and Mother Nature for conspiring against their province, students from the TRUSU Out Here Ski & Snowboard club welcome the season, yearning for soft powder and itching to hit the slopes. The group brings together outdoor enthusiasts from across campus for mountain adventures, social events, and a shared love of fresh powder.
Since TRU is situated in the heart of B.C’s interior, the school is surrounded by some of the province’s best outdoor adventure opportunities like Sun Peaks Resort and Harper Mountain, both of which are just a short drive from campus. The club was founded more than a decade ago by students passionate about the ski industry, including Julia Thrift, one of the club’s early leaders, whose class project helped launch large-scale events like the Campus and Flight Big Air Show. That event, which featured jumps built right on campus, helped the club grow into what it is today.
“The big thing for us is creating a ski and snowboard community on campus,” co-president Gabi Cattaneo said. “We live in one of the best places in the world to go riding, but we don’t really have that ski culture on campus the way bigger schools like UBC do. We want to change that.”
The Out Here club has grown to be one of the university’s biggest and most active. Each winter, members organize trips to Sun Peaks and other B.C. resorts, host social nights, and create a community where both beginners and experienced riders can feel at home.
Leading the club this year are co-presidents Cattaneo and Jake Diprose, alongside the club manager Kaitlin Bragg and assistant manager Alex Corke. This year’s leadership team is passionate about growing the community and making skiing and snowboarding more accessible for TRU students. “We really just want people to feel comfortable trying something new,” Cattaneo said. “Even if you’ve never been on skis before, there’s always someone in the club willing to help you out.”
The executive team is working on expanding the club’s offerings, from organized mountain trips and partnerships with nearby resorts to social nights that help members connect off the slopes.
“I probably wouldn’t have made any friends in my first year if I hadn’t joined the ski club,” Bragg said.
A key part of the club’s culture is inclusivity. You don’t have to ski or snowboard to join.
“Even if you can’t ski, you can come to our movie nights, socials, or just hang out,” Bragg said. “We have people who’ve never been on the mountain, but they still come to our events and make friends.”
Cattaneo even noted that their club stands out because they are open to everyone. “A lot of TRU’s clubs are academic or cultural,” she said. “We’re one of the few that anyone can join. You don’t need to be in a certain program; you just have to want to be part of the community.”
For members, being part of the club isn’t just fun; it’s also good for their mental health. “You sit inside all winter otherwise,” Cattaneo said. “Skiing gives you something to look forward to. I don’t experience winter depression because I’m outside every day, surrounded by like-minded people.”
“Most people dread winter,” Bragg said. “But when you’re part of the club, you get to look forward to seeing your friends and doing something you love.”
As the season kicks off, the team’s goal is to keep growing the community. “We’ve seen consistent growth the last three years,” Cattaneo said. “We want to attract more beginners, more experts, just more people getting out there. No one ever regrets joining.”
When asked to describe Out Here in three words, the executive team agreed: adventurous, inclusive, and community.
“You’ll have the most fun year of your life,” Bragg said. “You’ll make connections you might not make anywhere else on campus, and you’ll end the season with a group of friends who feel like family.”
Students interested in joining can follow and message the club on Instagram at @out.here.tru.